Ex-Yes Singer Jon Anderson's New Group, The AndersonPonty Band, to Release Debut

Deborah Anderson/IoannisAfter being postponed because of health issues, the debut album by The AndersonPonty Band, the new group formed by ex-Yes singer Jon Anderson and acclaimed jazz-rock violinist Jean Luc Ponty, finally will be released in the early fall.  The aptly titled Better Late than Never features live performances by the band that have been enhanced with innovative production, and comes packaged with a DVD containing concert footage of the group playing last September at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado.

Better Late than Never features a mix of original songs and reworked versions of Yes tunes and of Ponty compositions.  Among rearranged Yes songs appearing on the record are “Roundabout,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and “Wonderous Stories.”  The album also includes a new tune called “Infinite Mirage” that features original melodies by Anderson and also incorporates Ponty’s classic piece, “Mirage.”

Better Late than Never was originally planned for release earlier this year, but was delayed when Anderson underwent a sinus operation.  The AndersonPonty Band will support the album with a fall tour currently scheduled to kick off October 27 in the Philadelphia area and run through a November 21 show in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The AndersonPonty Band also features guitarist Jamie Glaser, keyboardist Wally Minko, bassist Baron Browne, and drummer/percussionist Rayford Griffin, all of whom have previously collaborated with Ponty.

A Better Late than Never making-of documentary is also being prepared for release at the same time as the album.

Here are all of The AndersonPonty Band’s tour dates, according to the group’s official Facebook page:

10/27 — Glenside, PA, Keswick Theatre;
10/29 — Red Bank, NJ, Count Basie Theatre
10/30 — Ridgefield, CT, The Ridgefield Playhouse
11/1 — Munhall, PA, Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
11/3 — St. Charles, IL, The Arcada Theatre
11/4 — South Milwaukee, WI, South Milwaukee Performing Arts
11/6 — Detroit, MI, Music Hall Center
11/7 — Toronto, ON, Canada, Danforth Music Hall
11/10 — Washington, D.C., Howard Theatre
11/11 — Huntington, NY, The Paramount
11/13 — New York, NY, New York Society for Ethical Culture
11/14 — Boston, MA, Berklee Performance Center
11/17 — San Francisco, CA, Regency Ballroom
11/18 — Sacramento, CA, Crest Theatre
11/20 — Beverly Hills, CA, Saban Theatre
11/21 — Scottsdale, AZ, Talking Stick Resort & Casino

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